The Cost of a Turkey in Every State [Thanksgiving 2024 Study]

Home chefs across America are gearing up for the biggest feast of the year. While individual tastes dictate what side dishes are at the table, at the center of most Thanksgiving meals is an entrée that’s a time-honored tradition: the turkey.

Turkey also tends to be the most expensive part of a Thanksgiving feast, so our team at FinanceBuzz wanted to help give cooks a leg-up on their shopping by calculating how much they should expect to budget for their bird this year.

To determine the average cost for a turkey in 2024, we collected prices from multiple U.S. grocery stores across the country and determined how much shoppers in each state can expect to pay for a Thanksgiving turkey this year.

Key findings

• On average, Americans can expect to pay $31.16 for a 15-pound turkey this year — an average of $2.08 per pound.
• Across the country, turkey prices in 2024 are down 12% from last year.
• At more than $50 per bird ($52.85), Hawaii has the highest average turkey prices of all the states. In the contiguous U.S., California has the highest average price at $39.85.
• Oklahomans can expect to pay just $19.75 on average for their Thanksgiving turkey, which is the lowest rate in the nation. Turkeys cost less than $20 on average in only one other state — Louisiana ($19.80).

How much are Thanksgiving turkeys this year? Average turkey costs by state

States with the most expensive Thanksgiving turkeys

As is the case with many goods, the most expensive average turkey prices in the U.S. were found away from the contiguous United States. Residents of Hawaii can expect to pay the highest rate in the country ($52.85) for a 15-pound turkey. That’s nearly 70% more than the national average of $31.16.

Turkeys cost almost $10 less in Alaska ($44.85), but that still makes the bird more expensive than in any of the remaining 48 states. Hawaiians and Alaskans are no strangers to high prices. Alaska and Hawaii consistently rank among the most expensive states to live in due to the high costs of transporting goods to the non-contiguous states.

Most expensive states for a Thanksgiving turkey

State	Cost for a 15-pound turkey
Hawaii	$52.85
Alaska	$44.85
California	$39.85
Connecticut	$36.85
Montana	$36.85
New Jersey	$36.85
Nebraska	$36.35
New York	$35.85
Minnesota	$35.30
Georgia	$34.85
North Carolina	$34.85

On the mainland, California has the most expensive turkey prices on average, as a 15-pound bird costs $39.85 in the Golden State. Three states are tied with the fourth-highest turkey price in the country, as a 15-pound bird will cost shoppers $36.85 on average in Connecticut, Montana, and New Jersey.

States with the most affordable Thanksgiving turkeys

Turkeys are most affordable in Oklahoma, where they cost just $19.75 on average. That’s nearly $11.50 cheaper than the national average. One other state also has an average turkey price that’s under $20, as Louisianans can get a 15-pound turkey for an average cost of $19.80.

Least expensive states for a Thanksgiving turkey

State	Cost for a 15-pound turkey
Oklahoma	$19.75
Louisiana	$19.80
Mississippi	$22.30
Texas	$22.60
Illinois	$22.85
Ohio	$22.85
Kentucky	$24.85
Tennessee	$24.85
Michigan	$25.35
Indiana	$25.85
Kansas	$25.85

The third and fourth-lowest turkey prices in the country can be found in Mississippi and Texas, where they cost $22.30 and $22.60, respectively. Two states are tied with the fifth-lowest average cost, with a 15-pound bird coming in at $22.85 in both Illinois and Ohio.

2024 Thanksgiving turkey prices: Prices are falling

Some shoppers may be curious how turkey prices for this year compare to previous Thanksgivings, and whether or not they’re getting a better or worse deal on their holiday meal.

Compared to the two previous years, shoppers will be delighted to see turkey prices drop in 2024. Across the country, 15-pound turkey cost an average of $31.16 ($2.08 per pound) in 2024, compared with $35.40 ($2.36 per pound) in 2023. That price reduction represents a price decrease of 12% from last year to now.

How to save money on Thanksgiving meals

Home-cooked meals are the best part of celebrating Thanksgiving. A good meal doesn’t have to break the bank, though. Here are some tips on how to save money on groceries:

• Earn credit card rewards at checkout. To get the most out of your shopping trip, use one of the best credit cards for buying groceries to get rewards on your purchases.
• Use helpful grocery hacks at the store. Groceries are a big expense for families of all sizes. Learning insider tips on how to spend less on groceries can help reduce the overall cost of your essentials.
• Use travel credit cards when visiting family. The days and weeks leading up to Thanksgiving are a busy time of year for travel. When you book trips, use one of the best travel credit cards to earn rewards for future holidays.

Methodology

To compile the data shown above, FinanceBuzz researchers recorded the price of turkeys in at least three grocery stores in each state. In general, prices were obtained from regional, chain grocery stores with multiple locations in a state (rather than smaller individual companies) or prominent national chains.

All prices were collected for Butterball-brand turkeys weighing between 12-26 lbs. Prices per pound in each grocery store were averaged to find the cost per state and multiplied by 15 pounds to obtain our final rankings.